Wednesday night's "American Idol" audition episode unearthed a lot of talent in Miami, Florida. But the most shocking discovery might be Robbie Carrico, the boy-bander-turned-rocker who impressed Randy, Paula and Simon with a solid rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Kind of Man." While his scruffy looks and pleasant voice are sure to win over fans, it's what "Idol" didn't tell viewers that might keep them tuning in: Years ago, Carrico was reportedly romantically involved with none other than Britney Spears.

Carrico's group, Boyz-N-Girlz United, opened for Spears on the ...Baby One More Time tour in the summer of '99. Their brief relationship became public when they attended the "Drive Me Crazy" premiere together that September. Aside from the Spears/Carrico connection, Boyz-N-Girlz United's only claim to fame is a terribly minor hit single "Messed Around," written and produced (along with several tracks on their album) by 'NSYNC's JC Chasez.

According to an undated questionnaire posted on the last remaining Boyz-N-Girlz United fan site (an Angelfire page, no less), Carrico, who now fronts a rock group called Missing Picket, downplayed his fling with Spears, citing "Sarah Michelle Gellar" as his "ideal girlfriend."

Considering the show's penchant for milking contestants' interesting back stories, it might surprise some that there was no mention of the Britney Spears connection (or his relationship to country legend Patsy Cline, his "maternal cousin," according to a band bio apparently dating from 2000) during Wednesday's "Idol." But based on an unconfirmed list of recently leaked names [SPOILER ALERT!!], we'll be seeing a lot of Carrico this season, as he allegedly made the semifinals as one of the top 12 boys, giving Ryan Seacrest plenty of time to pose the Britney questions.